Okay I read the latest thread on this back from March. I will try to get pics to post today. I know that my saddle is a bit too wide for my TB mare. She has high withers. I tried a hard foam cheaper thing and it made her worse (pinning ears back on turns, showing obvious discomfort)

I used a wire to determine fit by measuring her following an online instruction and it appears my saddle is just a little too wide. I have found several nice half pads on the web and from suggestions on here. My question is what is the best? I am leaning towards one on Dover

I am glad to hear you want to use a 1/2 pad, for the correct reasons. I have to resort to a 1/2 pad as well because my TB.

Over the winter due to lack of riding because of corrective shoeing - he's lost all his muscle mass and topline. His saddle doesn't fit him and is creating major bridging - so I have to change the gullet to a wider color - and use a 1/2 pad to protect his back.

The one from dover has several positive reviews but I also see lots of people singing praises for the thinline one. I just don't want to rush and buy the wrong one. I will try to get some pics of my horse with the saddle on her for any suggestions

I would go with the second sheepskin pad (my daughter has the same one and it's held up well!) or a Skito Interpad. The Skito is a half pad with great foam inside. I have 3 Skitos and LOVE them! They hold up well and really cushion without being bulky. If you need shims, you can go with the Skito Correction pad and remove the shims once she fills out behind her shoulders.

I have a Thinline contour pad over my sheepskin pad. If I had to do it again, I would buy the Thinline sheepshin pad with the thinline rubber stuff for under the saddle. IT's both things I have now only together. LOVE the thinline. It definitely made my TB's boney back more comfy.

The only problem with the thinline sewn on to the sheepskin is washing it. I have heard about problems with that from more than a few people. The ThinLine doesn't allow the sheepskin to dry very quickly, even if you put a fan on it upside down, so you end up with mold under the sheepskin... Having two separate pads allows for better maintanence, and you have the flexibility to use one or the other. There are some Engle sheepskin pads on eBay that are sold with an Ultra ThinLine half pad. It's a good combo .

I have the same thinline pad you posted and LOVE it! My saddle is just a tad wide for my TB so the half pad makes it fit perfect. I would definitely recomend a thinline pad for anyone. The only thing I wish I did was get the thinline separately so I can use it with all kinds of different pads.

No, those foam inserts are worthless. They smoosh down very easily and will not provide any saddle fitting help at all. However, if they are cheap, you can buy one and then buy ThinLine inserts for their Saddle Fitter pad. The TL material is easy to trim if the inserts aren't quite the right shape.

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